Earlier this month, we posted about the Carpenters’ union protest at the Christ United Methodist Church in Tennessee. Now, the Roofers’ union is targeting another church.
The Westminster Presbyterian Church has a new neighbor–an inflatable rat set up outside by Local 11 of the roofers union, to protest the use of non-union labor.
“I guess our regional roofers’ union is upset because we’re using a nonunion roofing company,” the Rev. Matthew Robinson told the Joliet Herald-News.
An electrical short in July gutted the church, and work on the roof recently began.
The general contractor hired by Rev. Robinson bid out the job to both union and nonunion workers, but, as Robinson says, “My hands are tied. I’m bound by what insurance will cover.”
While Robinson has made attempts at reconciliation, the protests continue.
“I’m trying to be a peacemaker,” Robinson said. “I’m trying to do what Jesus would do, and I don’t think Jesus would put a rat out there. It’s just ugly, and all people are seeing right now is a big yellow rat in front of our church. Golly, we don’t need that. That’s not who we are.”
One must wonder, are the unions playing with fire?
